Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Ballad of Tam Lin and Winter Rose

Grace Robert, Tam Lin, 2012

Last semester for an art class I did an illustration for one of my favorite fairy tales, The Ballad of Tam Lin. It's a classic tale of love and someone being rescued, but what I particularly like about this one is that the damsel does the rescuing. How often does that happen? And when it does, it's usually in a poorly re-written Hollywood version that is simply ridiculous.

Another wonderful part of the story is when Janet must hold on to her Tam Lin as the Queen of the Faeries turns him into various terrible beasts or painful things. This, to me, is wonderful both literally for its imagery and inspiring bravery and also as a metaphor for what real love, true love, is; it's where you hold on with all your might to someone even when it hurts or they're not who you want them to be all the time. It references the more difficult parts of having a relationship that most won't stick through. And if you're brave and try hard, even the Queen of the Faeries can't thwart you. How's that for a fairy tale love story? It shows how love is full of mistakes (er, the unfortunate "payment" at the well that first time) and trials, but it will triumph in the end if hearts are steadfast.

Now, on to the ballad. There are many different versions, but I like the old, difficult to read ones the best. There is a more modern version here and a version geared more towards children here (without the unfortunate incident at the well the first time). The version I have below comes from the wonderful website tam-lin.org which has just about every version ever come up with.

One of my favorite modern works of fiction is inspired by this story. It's called Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip, a writer whose prose I consider to be some of the best being written these days. Plus, the cover art is done by Kinuko Craft, my top favorite still-living illustrator. What a magical combination.

Hi there, I adore this image! Would you mind if I put it on my blog or fb page, so long as I credit you? I'm writing a story inspired by Tam Lin and your take on it here is beautiful and perfect.Cheers, Kaz

Hi Grace! This is such a lovely image! I'm glad you like my site- would it be okay with you if I added this image to the artwork section (http://tam-lin.org/transformative/artwork_index.html)? I'd include copyright, attribution, and a link back to this site, as well as any text you might like. It's a great image, and I'd appreciate being able to add it to the collection of Tam Lin information.

Thank you! It's up on the site: http://tam-lin.org/transformative/artwork_index.html#robertPlease let me know if you want me to change any of the wording or links. I'm so glad to be able to add it, it's very kind of you.

Just found this blog - your art is wonderful, truly captures a feeling of what Janet is experiencing at that moment! I just finished reading "Tam Lin" by Pamela Dean (updated to a college campus in the early 70s) and now reading "An Earthly Knight" by Janet McNaugton, another take on the ballad. Also excellent reading! It is such a rich legend, so open to art, music, and re-tellings. Thanks for your own addition to the canon!

On the Use of Words

SilverSwan

Wildwood Dancing

Written by Juliet Marillier, this is a book full of jewel-bright colors and dark shadows. Read it on a warm summer's night scented with honeysuckle. (Cover by K.Y. Craft)

Autumn: The Best Season

The Moon

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls. ~George Carlin

Winter Rose

Written by Patricia McKillip, this is Tam Lin revisited. The world within the cover of this book will pull you in with icy fingers, then melt into a warm tale of the heart's greatest treasure. (Cover by K.Y. Craft)

Wind and Rain

Summer

Days full of sun and sweat, sleepless nights scented with jasmine and honeysuckle. Image: Kinuko Craft: A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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Swans

More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise. ~Orlando Gibbons

Maud XVIII

I have led her home, my love, my only friend, There is none like her, none. And never yet so warmly ran my blood And sweetly, on and on Calming itself to the long-wished-for end, Full to the banks, close on the promised good. ~ Tennyson

Rhiannon

Image: Kinuko Craft

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WELCOME, wild North Easter! Shame it is to see Odes to every Zephyr; Ne'er a verse to thee. ~Ode to the North-east Wind by Charles Kingsley

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“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ~ Plato

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If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger; I should not seem a part of it. ~Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

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Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers ........................................ "The Women of this country learned long ago: those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain." Eowyn, The Two Towers

West of the Moon, East of the Sun

Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate, And though I oft have passed them by, A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun. ~J.R.R. Tolkien

Snow

Snow possesses the magical ability to turn us all into children once more. It transforms the most ordinary of scenes into a fairy realm where one feels it likely to see any manner of extraordinary things; indeed, the tiny tracks of a field mouse in the snow look remarkably like a shred of lace dropped from the gown of the Snow Queen herself. ~Grace